Driver&#39;s cab equipped with an easy chair and bed

ABSTRACT

In order to provide a comfortable rest zone with an easy chair and reclining surface for a driver, even in a confined space, provision is made for a driver&#39;s cab for an individual driver to have an easy chair which can be converted into a bed. In this arrangement, a mattress runs over the armrest having an armrest cushion of the easy chair. The armrest cushion cushions the reclining surface, so that the mattress is of as space-saving a design as possible.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a driver's cab.

A driver's cab disclosed in German document DE 100 45 138 A1 has,arranged next to one another, a driver's seat, a front passenger seatand an easy chair. The seats have foldable backrests which, when foldedforward in the direction of travel, form a supporting surface for amattress. The disadvantages here are that a relatively large amount ofspace is required and the seats take up a large amount of space in thedriver's cab.

German document DE 35 07 529 A1 shows a driver's cab of a commercialvehicle having a bed which can be converted into an emergency seat. Thedisadvantages here are that the emergency seat is relativelyuncomfortable and virtually unusable in the driving mode because of thelack of safety.

German document DE 40 32 952 A1 discloses an armrest having a pivotingfitting. The armrest may be folded over to enlarge a reclining surface.The disadvantages here are that the construction is relativelycomplicated and the reclining surface provided in this manner has gaps.

In practice, the trend is for single drivers, even in cross borderlong-distance transport. Such a driver requires, in the driver's cab,suitable relaxation possibilities in addition to an ergonomic workplace.

It is an object of the invention to provide a driver's cab for acommercial vehicle which provides the driver with a comfortable restzone, is constructed in as compact and space-saving a manner aspossible, and preferably has a high-quality spare seat.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a driver's cab asclaimed.

The driver's cab has an easy chair with a cushioned armrest. The easychair is comfortably cushioned, may have a high backrest with anintegrated head cushion and can be used by the driver as an easy chairor relaxation chair. The easy chair can be converted into a bed, thearmrest cushion of the armrest cushioning a section, preferably acentral section or a central part, of a reclining surface. In this case,the armrest extends transversely with respect to the reclining surfaceand over a large part of the width thereof. As a result, a dual use ofthe armrest is achieved and a particularly space-saving use of the spaceis realized. A mattress which additionally cushions the recliningsurface extends beyond the armrest of the easy chair and thus forms acontinuous and gap-free reclining surface. The reclining surfacetherefore has no transitions or grooves and is therefore extremelycomfortable. In addition to a comfortable easy chair which serves forrelaxation during breaks from driving, a high-quality reclining surfaceis also provided and can be used without restriction as a bed. In thiscase, the available space is optimally used.

In one advantageous embodiment, provision is made for the mattress,which is of single-part design, to be able to be folded up. It can thenbe stored in a space-saving manner when not in use, for example duringthe driving mode. The mattress may have a plurality of cushion elementswhich are connected foldably to one another at their upper connectingedge. In the region of the armrest, provision is made to arrange thecushion elements at a distance from one another, so that the armrestcushion can engage between the cushion elements and, for its part,cushions part of the reclining surface. The armrest cushion is thereforedesigned as a reclining surface cushion. The mattress can therefore havea smaller volume while providing the same reclining comfort.

The compact construction of the easy chair and of the bed make itpossible, with the same dimensions of the driver's cab, for the spaceprovision in the interior to be improved. If the space provision isunchanged, the external dimensions of the driver's cab couldalternatively be reduced.

In one embodiment, provision is made for the backrest of the easy chairto be of foldable design. It can be folded over to form a horizontallyaligned supporting surface on which a cushion element of the mattresscan be arranged. The rear side of the backrest therefore forms asupporting surface for the mattress. A further supporting surface, whichsupports one or more cushion elements of the mattress, may be arrangednext to the easy chair, adjoining it laterally. The supporting surfacesof the mattress advantageously run approximately at the same height. Thesupporting surfaces are interrupted by the armrest which projects upwardbeyond the supporting surfaces.

For the best possible use of the space, provision may be made for one ormore comfort elements, e.g. a storage system, to be arranged below thesupporting surface. For example, a storage system with storagecompartments and/or drawers can be arranged below the supportingsurface. It is also possible for a refrigerator or an electronicappliance, for example a car radio or a CD player, to be arranged belowthe supporting surface.

For optimum reclining comfort, provision is made for the cushionhardness of the armrest to correspond approximately to the cushionhardness of the cushion elements of the mattress. A reclining surface isthus provided which, despite different cushion elements, has acontinuously constant cushion hardness.

In one embodiment, provision is made for the easy chair to have aseatbelt. The seatbelt may be designed as a three-point belt which isattached to the wall of the driver's cab. It is also possible for theseatbelt to be designed as a three-point belt which is integrated intothe backrest of the easy chair. It is thus possible for the chair toalso be used for short distances as a high-quality passenger's seatwhich corresponds to the safety requirements.

In one embodiment, provision is made to arrange the easy chair or thebed in the rear region of the driver's cab, the driver's seat beingarranged in front of the bed. In an individual driving mode, thepassenger's seat may be omitted, as a result of which the easy chair hasa relatively large amount of foot room which may extend as far as theinstrument panel. This free space may be used by a driver, e.g. forchanging his clothes.

The mattress is designed in a manner such that it can be folded up and,when not in use, can be folded up in a space-saving manner and stored.When the mattress is stored, the supporting surface of the mattress maybe used as a depositing surface or as a writing surface.

Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated and explained inthe figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a driver's cab in a schematic plan view together with aneasy chair,

FIG. 2 shows the easy chair with the mattress folded up, and

FIG. 3 shows the easy chair converted into the bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a driver's cab 1 of a commercial vehicle. Thedriver's cab 1 is provided with an individual driving package, a “singlecab”. This provides a single driver with generous furnishings and agenerously dimensioned free space within the driver's cab 1. Thedriver's cab 1 has a driver's seat 11 and an instrument panel 12 withoperating elements. An easy chair 2 having a storage system 14 adjacentto it is arranged on the rear wall of the driver's cab 1. The easy chair2 has armrests 25 and serves as a comfortable easy chair or relaxationchair for the driver during breaks or interruptions to the journey. Theeasy chair 2 has soft cushioning and has generously dimensionedcushions, so that it permits sitting positions which are as comfortableas possible.

The storage system 14 which is directly laterally adjacent to the easychair 2 has storage spaces and/or drawers 36. On its upper side, thestorage system 14 has a flat depositing surface 32, which can serve as awriting pad and, in addition, is designed as a supporting surface 32 fora mattress 31. The mattress 31, which is of single-piece design, can befolded up and is folded up, for example, for driving as illustrated inFIG. 1, and securely stored in a storage space behind the driver's seat11.

In the furnishing for an individual driver, the passenger's seat isomitted. Because of the easy chair 2, which is arranged on the rear wallof the driver's cab 1, the driver's cab 1 has, on the passenger's side,a large free space 15 which the driver can use, for example, forchanging his clothes. The easy chair 2 has a seatbelt 24, so that itcorresponds to the safety requirements and can be used as a passenger'sseat in the event of an emergency or for short distances.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the rear region of thedriver's cab 1 with the easy chair 2 and the storage system 14. The easychair 2 has a seat cushion 21 and a backrest 22. The backrest 22 runscontinuously up to head height and has an integrated head cushion 23. Athree-point belt 24 fastened to the wall of the driver's cab 1 ensuresthe necessary safety of the easy chair 2 in an accident, it then beingpossible for the chair to be used in the driving mode as an emergencyseat. For comfortable sitting, the easy chair 2 has an armrest 25 withan armrest cushion 26.

The storage system 14 is arranged directly laterally adjacent to theeasy chair 2. The storage system 14 has flaps and drawers which are tobe opened forward in the direction of travel. The mattress 31 isarranged folded up on the upper depositing surface 32 of the storagesystem 14. A cushion element 33 is arranged directly on the depositingsurface 32. The cushion element 33 is connected to the cushion element34 via a flexible support 35, e.g. a hard-wearing material of blendedfabric. The cushion elements 33, 34 are fastened, spaced apart from eachother, to the support 35, the distance between the cushion elements 33,34 corresponding precisely to the dimensions of the armrest cushion 26.

The easy chair 2 can be converted into a bed, as illustrated in FIG. 3.For this purpose, the backrest 22 is of pivotable design, so that it canbe folded over forward. The rear side of the backrest 22 then forms asupporting surface for the mattress 31. The rear side of the backrest 22runs at the same height as the supporting surface 32. The armrest 25 orthe armrest cushion 26 protrudes upward beyond the supporting surface32.

The mattress 31 can then be folded over the supporting surface 32 andthe backrest 22 in such a manner that the armrest 25 or the armrestcushion 26 engages between the cushion elements 33 and 34. The support35 of the mattress 31 then runs continuously over the entire recliningsurface of the mattress 31, with the result that the latter has acontinuous and groove-free reclining surface. The support 35 protectsthe armrest cushion 26 against mechanical loads, such as, for example,shearing or abrasion, and connects the cushion elements 33 and 34 toeach other at their upper connecting edges.

The armrest cushion 26 cushions the reclining surface. The hardness ofthe armrest cushion 26 is matched to the hardness of the cushionelements 33 and 34, thus resulting in a comfortable reclining surface.The cushion elements 33 and 34 of the mattress 31 therefore do not haverun over the entire length of the reclining surface, and constructionvolume is saved. A comfortable resting possibility or recliningpossibility is therefore provided in the smallest possible space withexisting components being used.

Via one or more cushions or seat cushions additionally arranged on topof the reclining surface, the reclining surface of the mattress 31 canbe used not only for reclining, but also, for example, as a sofa orcouch for comfortable sitting or resting.

1. A driver's cab for a commercial vehicle comprising an easy chairwhich can be converted into a bed and which is arranged in the directionof travel, the bed having a mattress which forms a gap-free, continuousreclining surface, which extends transversely with respect to thedirection of travel, wherein the easy chair has an armrest with anarmrest cushion which cushions a section of the reclining surface, andwherein the gap-free, continuous reclining surface extends beyond thearmrest.
 2. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mattressis designed so that it can be folded up and has at least two cushionelements which are connected foldably to one another at upper connectingedges and are spaced apart from one another by an extent of the armrestcushion.
 3. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 1, wherein the easychair has a backrest which can be folded over in the direction of traveland, when folded forward, supports a cushion element of the mattress. 4.The driver's cab as claimed in claim 3, wherein first and second partsof the reclining surface are arranged laterally next to the easy chairand directly adjacent to the armrest, and wherein a height of the firstpart of the reclining surface corresponds to a height of the second partof the reclining surface.
 5. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 4,wherein at least one comfort element is arranged below the second partof the reclining surface.
 6. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 2,wherein the armrest cushion has approximately the same hardness as thefirst cushion element, the second cushion element, or both the firstcushion element and the second cushion element of the mattress.
 7. Thedriver's cab as claimed in claim 1, wherein the easy chair and thereclining surface are arranged in a rear region of the driver's cab on arear wall.
 8. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 4, wherein a driver'sseat is arranged in front of the second part of the reclining surface inthe direction of travel, and the easy chair is arranged on a passenger'sside so that the easy chair has legroom extending as far as aninstrument panel.
 9. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 5, wherein thecomfort element is any of a storage space, a refrigerated box, an audioappliance, and a drawer.
 10. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 2,wherein the easy chair has a backrest which can be folded over in thedirection of travel and, when folded forward, supports a cushion elementof the mattress.
 11. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 10, whereinfirst and second parts of the reclining surface are arranged laterallynext to the easy chair and directly adjacent to the armrest, and whereina height of the first part of the reclining surface corresponds to aheight of the second part of the reclining surface.
 12. The driver's cabas claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one comfort element is arrangedbelow the second part of the reclining surface.
 13. The driver's cab asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the easy chair and the reclining surface arearranged in a rear region of the driver's cab on a rear wall.
 14. Thedriver's cab as claimed in claim 3, wherein the easy chair and thereclining surface are arranged in a rear region of the driver's cab on arear wall.
 15. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 4, wherein the easychair and the reclining surface are arranged in a rear region of thedriver's cab on a rear wall.
 16. The driver's cab as claimed in claim 5,wherein the easy chair and the reclining surface are arranged in a rearregion of the driver's cab on a rear wall.
 17. The driver's cab asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the easy chair and the reclining surface arearranged in a rear region of the driver's cab on a rear wall.
 18. Thedriver's cab as claimed in claim 11, wherein a driver's seat is arrangedin front of the second part of the reclining surface in the direction oftravel, and the easy chair is arranged on a passenger's side so that theeasy chair has legroom extending as far as an instrument panel.